Paul Nyathi|President Emmerson Mnangagwa rushed back into the country on Saturday from Angola to join the nation in the two days mourning he proclaimed for people who perished during Cyclone Idai.
Mnangagwa had received huge criticism from Zimbabweans on social media when he hurriedly left the country for a very low key SADC event in Angola leaving the country mourning.
Other SADC countries seconded ministers and ambassadors to the event which Mnangagwa attended.
The cyclone affected Chimanimani, Chipinge, Masvingo and Chikomba leaving more than 230 people dead and left a trail of destruction.
After his hurried return, Mnangagwa attended a church service at the Methodist Church in Mabelreign, Harare and was accompanied by the Chief Secretary in the Office of the President and Cabinet, Dr Misheck Sibanda and Information, Media and Broadcasting Services principal director Mr Regis Chikore.
In his remarks, Mnangagwa narrated moments he encountered when he visited the affected areas and came face to face with the victims last week when he visited the stricken areas of Chimanimani. He said he also heard different heart-breaking narrations of how people died and said it is time to seek God as no one had the answer to this national problem.
“As people, we do not know anything. We only get to know something after it would have occurred but God knows everything, even things to come in future. Job lost all his children and wealth but he never turned away from God.
“We should accept this although it is difficult, even for me. Sometimes we ask God why He allows such things to happen and also if He still exists.
“We cannot direct God but we just accept what He has done. Let us pray and seek God when we still can as disaster can come anytime and in different forms. We are all sinners and we should all go to Jesus when we are still alive,” he said.
Mnangagwa thanked all the countries that have assisted Zimbabwe in this difficult period including the United Arab Emirates, South Africa, Tanzania and Botswana and Britain among others for the support with drugs, blankets and food among other things.
He said he had received messages of condolences from British monarch, Queen Elizabeth and her family.
“The British government, even if we disagree on some issues, sent a message. Prince Charles sent a message together with his wife to console us.
“Local companies, churches, organisations and individuals in Zimbabwe have also sent and are still sending goods to help the affected people in the affected areas,” he said.
“We have some misunderstanding with doctors here but they are voluntarily supporting people in the affected areas and I want to thank them.”
Mnangagwa expressed concern that the death toll was increasing and could get to more than 200 people.
“Some citizens were swept away to Mozambique and because of the decomposing state of their bodies, we have agreed that they be buried in Mozambique. Some could have been washed away to the ocean,” he said.
The Methodist Church general secretary, Reverend Dr Jimmy Dube said it was the role of the church to console people and help them come to terms with the disaster.
“The victims have received food, clothing drugs and all the material things but the church should assist them to come to terms with the grief, so that they do not collapse inside.
“People are trying to come to terms with the grief and anger. They are asking God why this happened and why He remained silent and never alerted them. Some are even asking is there God while others ask God why people have perished through floods when He had made a covenant that He will not destroy humanity through floods.
“We do not have answers. Today is an important day as it allows healing. We cannot continue as if nothing has happened. We have come together to express our grief and God will heal us of the trauma. The church should help us to pick up the broken pieces,” he said.